Holland America Goes Hawaiian

Holland America has plans to discover the Hawaiian Island chain in 2010.

The ms Zaandam 1,432-passenger ship will sail five 14-day roundtrip San Diego cruises and one 15-day voyage from Vancouver to San Diego. The sailings are from October through December.

The cruise features back-to-back calls at Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai and Maui—plus a call at Ensenada, Mexico—before returning to San Diego.

Included in the Hawaii cruise roster is a holiday sailing departing December 19.

Departing Sundays from San Diego, guests will have several days at sea before arriving at Hawaii. Ship board activities include hands on cooking classes, digital photo workshops, fabulous new Greenhouse Spa, and an speaker series to give travelers insights into the Hawaiian island culture, islands, music and dance traditions.

Cruise fares begin at $1,499 per person for the full 14-day Circle Hawaii and $1,699 per person for the 15-day voyage.

Carnival Dream Offers Laser Show

Carnival Dream’s laser shows will be the first ever for a North America–based cruise ship.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream will introduce the line’s first outdoor laser shows that will combine the latest in laser technology with rock music to provide guests a unique and exciting nighttime entertainment option.

The 15-minute nighttime laser shows will feature choreographed lasers projecting brilliant aerial patterns of blue, red and green set to music by popular artists such as Styx, Rush, Van Halen, Boston and Pink Floyd.

Carnival Dream’s new laser shows are just one of a wide range of entertainment choices available aboard the magnificent 3,646-passenger vessel.

Exclusive to the Carnival Dream will be Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café/entertainment venue that will showcase bands playing a variety of music genres. Ocean Plaza also will host art, photo and spa seminars, scrapbooking classes, magicians and jugglers, trivia contests and more.

Carnival Dream is set to debut Sept. 21, 2009, with the first of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises operating round-trip from Rome, followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 - Nov. 12.

From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a special nine-day Caribbean cruise departing Dec. 3.

Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Dec. 12, 2009.

Source: Breaking Travel News

Royal Caribbean Wins 12 Magellan Awards

Royal Caribbean International received the most gold and most total awards in the cruise ship category in the 2009 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.


Among its 12 wins, the cruise line took gold for Freedom of the Seas, the H2O Zone kids' water park and Presidential Family Suite on Freedom-class ships, the Clues to the Cruise marketing campaign, and the overview video and official website of Oasis of the Seas.

The Magellan Awards is the premier award for the travel industry. From design to marketing to services, the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honors the best in travel and salutes the outstanding travel professionals behind it all.

Oasis - World's Largest Cruise Ship

When she launches in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world!


An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 225,282 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms.

Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.

The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Additional information is available at http://www.oasisoftheseas.com